Compare towns
Thornton vs Sutton vs Center Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Sutton has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Center Harbor has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Thornton | Sutton | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Highest |
2,239 |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
48.1±4.1Lowest 11% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sutton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
| Sutton and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
— |
| Sutton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032 25% below NH |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #18 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Thornton School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.